Air burst system for cleaning submerged screen intake

Abstract

Systems and related methods for purging air burst supply piping of accumulated water prior to delivering pulses of pressurized air to an interior of a screen intake through the air burst supply piping. The systems and methods can include a purge compressor delivering a purging air supply at a head pressure slightly above a head pressure of water in the air burst supply piping, wherein the head pressure of the water is equivalent to a depth at which the intake screen. The system and methods can also include a purge line arranged in a parallel orientation to an air burst supply line, wherein both the purge line and the air burst supply line are operably coupled to a pressurized air tank.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for delivering pulses of pressurized air to a submerged screen intake, comprising:
 purging water accumulated within a length of air burst supply piping with purging air such that the length of air burst supply piping is evacuated of water, the length of air burst supply piping connecting an onshore air system with a submerged screen intake, the onshore air system including a receiver tank, a primary compressor and a secondary compressor, said purging air being supplied from the secondary compressor; 
 monitoring pressure within the length of air burst supply piping during the purging step within a pressure sensor; and 
 delivering one or more pulses of pressurized air from the onshore air system to the submerged screen take after the length of air burst supply piping has been purged, said one or more pulses of pressurized air supplied from the receiver tank which is pressurized by the primary compressor, wherein the purging air has a purging air pressure less than an air pressure of the one or more pulses of pressurized air, wherein the step of delivering the one or more pulses of pressurized air is commenced once the pressure sensor indicates that the pressure within the length of air burst supplying piping exceeds a maximum depth pressure of the length of air burst supply piping. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pulses of pressurized air are delivered to an interior of the submerged screen intake. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purging air has a purging air pressure of greater than 30 feet of head pressure. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more pulses of pressurized air are within the range of 165-200 PSIA. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , where the step of purging the water, further comprises:
 closing a screen valve to maintain purging air within the length of air burst supply piping prior to delivering the one or more pulses of pressurized air from the onshore air system. 
 
     
     
       6. A method for delivering pulses of pressurized air to a submerged screen intake, comprising:
 purging water accumulated within a length of air burst supply piping with purging air, the length of air burst supply piping connecting an onshore air system with a submerged screen intake; 
 monitoring pressure within the length of air burst supply piping during the purging step with a pressure sensor; 
 transmitting the pressure within the length of air burst supply piping from the pressure sensor to a control panel, wherein an indication that the pressure within the length of air burst supplying piping exceeds the maximum depth pressure of the length of air burst supply piping completes the step of purging; and 
 commencing delivering one or more pulses of pressurized air from the onshore air system to the submerged screen intake once the pressure sensor indicates that the pressure within the length of air burst supplying exceeds a maximum depth pressure of the length of air burst supply piping and the length of air burst supply piping has been purged. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of delivering one or more pulses of pressurized air further comprises:
 supplying the one or more pulses of pressurized air from a receiver tank that is pressurized by a primary compressor. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of purging water further comprises:
 supplying the purging air from a receiver tank, and 
 directing the purging air through a pressure regulating valve such that the purging air has a purging air pressure less than an air pressure of the one or more pulses of pressurized air.